Vandal caught in the act during opening week at new high school

A student was caught vandalizing lockers during the opening week at the new Kennett High School, and last Friday, at the fund-raising basketball game for the Millen Foundation, a student was caught climbing and trying to bend the school's flagpole."It's unfortunate that there are a few bad apples in every bushel," school Superintendent Carl Nelson said. "We're trying to limit that number."Nelson informed the Conway School Board of the locker damage when it met Monday. It was the board's first meeting in the new high school."I have to report there was an act of vandalism," he said. "The TV cameras caught it, and the administration is taking care of it."The student, a male from Bartlett, was caught on the school's surveillance cameras. New to the high school are security cameras that are located in every hallway and are monitored from the front office. Cameras have also been placed in the parking lot and will be installed at The Gary Millen Stadium."Big Brother is watching and he's telling you to stop it," Mike DiGregorio, of the school board, said. "When I first heard (about the locker incident) my immediate reaction was 'Tell me the cameras caught it.' I think they're going to be a valuable tool and hopefully serve as deterrent."Nelson said the penalties for vandalism vary. "A lot of different things come into play," he said. "Such things as prior history, former offenses, have a lot to do with determining suspension times."The new $36 million Kennett High School opened its doors on Sept. 4.